Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson was inactive for last week’s game against the Oakland Raiders after being a game-time decision, and the Texans have decided to rule out Jackson sooner this week. According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, Texans head coach Gary Kubiak stated that Jackson will not play in this week’s divisional game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

His absence is more “good news” for the Jaguars than it is “bad news” for the Texans. Although Jackson is a good No. 2 corner and a key starter for the Texans, they don’t need him that much this week against a thin Jaguars wide receiver corps. Cecil Shorts is the No. 1 priority for the Texans to stop, and he’ll almost certainly be shadowed by star cornerback Jonathan Joseph throughout the game. It’s Joseph’s job to stop one of the best receivers in the game, and Shorts is clearly determined to have a big game after rightfully complaining about a ridiculous lack of targets over the past two games. The Jaguars have responded positively to Shorts’s qualms, so expect to see a lot of Chad Henne’s passes sent in the star receiver’s direction.